We’re now officially became twenty-two years old, which means this site can now legally drink almost everywhere. Please browse responsibly.

But let me tell ya, growing old is a sonuvabitch. We’re still in the process of moving from our old location. It’s a thankless but surprisingly enjoyable task, as I cut-and-paste away, merrily revamping and revising and updating and even, occasionally, changing my opinion. And oh what fun! it is to correct errors and embarrassing typos that have lingered for years and even decades–and replace them with all new errors and embarrassing typos!

This is going to be a long hard slog, as I try to modernize and update a site with over 3000 pages, but by the time it’s done, it should be all kinds of easier to use.

We’ve even tentatively dipped our toes into the waters of once more publishing fiction, but we’ll see how that goes.

Or maybe not.

So please be patient, and if anyone has comments, suggestions, words of encouragement or even a few bucks for beer money, talk to me. Become a Friend of the Site — I’m easy. But I should remind you that I’m a man who likes to talk to a man who likes to talk…

Got something in a private eye vein I should know about?
Got something to show me? I can’t post if I don’t know…

Glad I came upon your site via noirish Chandler post.Like your line “I’m a man who likes to talk to a man who likes to talk.” Your line or from a movie? I’m an intellectual vagrant whose train of thought often takes the scenic route. 1st half is mine 2nd was said about the late N.Y.Times writer Johnny Apple.

I’m new to your site. When you post the link “Buy this book,” next to a title is that also your personal recommendation based on the quality of that particular novel or just a convenience you’re extending to anyone who doesn’t know how to get to the Amazon website?

I’d love to say it was both, but honestly? It’s to push people towards Amazon. If someone buys a book (or a movie or whatever) through one of my links, I get a few pennies, which I can then plough back into server space, domain registration and, if I’m really lucky, a beer now and then. It doesn’t cost readers anything, but those few cents can mean a lot to me.

As for my recommendations, while most of the entries are NOT reviews, per se, it’s usually pretty easy to suss out how I feel about a certain character or writer.